"Blaine! You didn't have to do anything like this! It must have been so expensive..." Kurt said, amazed.

"Nothing's too expensive for you Kurt!" Blaine said, giving Kurt a quick kiss on the cheek. "It's the day after our graduation, we had our family party last night, but I wanted to do something, just us. To celebrate. Have I ever mentioned what good planning it was for you to do a course that was a year longer than mine so we could graduate at the same time?"

"Only about a million times. Today! Thanks for doing this Blaine. It's so special! It seems like everything's going so fast, doesn't it? We've graduated, we both have jobs lined up, and we're ready to start our lives! It seems like only yesterday that I was spying on the Warblers!"

"I'm glad Puck convinced you to do that! You're a terrible spy, by the way..."

"So you've said Blaine!"

"I love you Kurt."

Even though he heard Blaine saying that every day it still made his heart jump. It was like he wasn't expecting that Blaine could still be in love with him.

"I love you too Blaine!" He said, leaning in for a quick kiss from Blaine.

"I still can't believe you decided to bring me to the most expensive restaurant in the city! I'm not that amazing!"

"You certainly are, babe."

"Thanks, Blaine."

"My pleasure. It's a special occasion, and you're a special person, I wanted to do something nice. Um, Anderson?" Blaine said to the maitre d, waiting to be seated.

"Anderson...Anderson..." he said, looking through the reservation list. "Ah yes. Come this way, sirs." Kurt and Blaine followed him through the restaurant. "Here we are. Someone will be around in a moment to take your orders. Is there anything I can do for you in the meantime?"

"Ah no, I think we're fine. Thanks." Blaine said, the maitre d nodded, and then walked away.

"Seriously, Blaine, how can you afford this?"

"Kurt, I have been saving my whole life, I can afford this once in awhile!"

"If you insist. I'm not going to complain!"

"You'd better not! What are you going to have?"

"Well I'm thinking of getting the beef..."

"Mmmm that looks good!"

"What are you getting?"

"I'm thinking the chicken. It sounds so yum, Kurt!"

"It does! This is a step up from breadstix, isn't it?"

"It certainly is. We're going there when we go to Ohio, by the way. And the Lima Bean."

"Did you really think I would go to Ohio without going to those places?"

"No. No I did not, darling." Blaine said, as he grabbed Kurt's hand from across the table.

xxxxxxxxxxxx

"Well that was a lovely meal, thank you so much for bringing me here Blaine!"

"Once again, it's my pleasure. I know that you have high standards, I have to impress you occasionally or else you'll trade me in for some new boyfriend who you'll meet at some fashion show."

"Aww, no, never. I'll never love anyone but you, Blaine.

"Me neither, Kurt! Hey can we go for a walk?"

"Yeah. Where are we going?"

"Um well i was thinking of going for a walk along the beach there," Blaine pointed towards the shore just across the road they were walking on.

"In case you haven't thought about this, these shoes are going to be wrecked by this, but okay. I'll cope. You have to make it up to me tonight though..." Kurt teased, biting his lip.

"Oh totally!" Blaine whispered seducingly. "It'll be worth the spoilt shoes."

"If it's anything like it usually is, then I'm willing to make the sacrifice." Kurt said, smiling.

"I promise." Blaine said. he took Kurt's hand and pulled him across the road. They started to walk down the beach, the lights out at sea were shining bright, and there were people sitting on the road just by the beach at another restaurant there. About halfway down the beach Blaine started talking.

"Kurt, I don't know if you realise just how drastically my life changed when I met you. I'd never known someone who was as kind and thoughtful and as generally lovable as you are. Or who knows more about fashion than the rest of the USA put together. You changed my life, Kurt, and I just know I just would not be able to live without you, without you complaining when I pull on my old tee-shirt that you hate (but I know you secretly love), without you waking me up with kisses each morning, or without you singing whenever you feel like it. I'm proud of you and me Kurt. I'm proud of all we've done, I'm proud of what an amazing couple we are. Being your boyfriend makes me so proud, but I think it's just...not enough anymore. You are amazing and I love you so, so much!" Blaine got down on one knee in front of Kurt, and pulled out a little box. Kurt's hand moved up to his mouth, a shocked expression coming over his face. "Kurt Hummel, will you marry me?" Kurt stood there and started to smile and cry.

"Yes, Blaine. Yes. Yes, yes, YES!" He yelled.

"Really?"

"Yes, really!"

Blaine stood up and took the ring out of the box. He placed it on Kurt's finger and smiled at how beautiful it looked. He leaned in towards Kurt and kissed him. It got deeper and more intense, until they both had to move away for breath.

"I love you so much Blaine."

"I love you too, Kurt. So much!"

"Oh my god." Kurt said, finally getting a chance to look at his ring. "How did I get a guy who is amazing at picking out rings? It's beautiful, Blaine, it really is!"

"It is. I knew it would look good on you! Hence my picking this one." Blaine said.

"You know what? I think we should get you one too. I mean, even though this is the symbol of you proposing to me, I think it would be nice. And I know that generally only one person wears the ring, but generally that person is a woman. I just think it would be a nice gesture, even if yours isn't strictly an engagement ring as such, but just a normal ring..." Kurt explained.

"I don't know why you think you had to justify that Kurt. I was actually just about to suggest that we do that. I want you to pick it out for me, please."

"I would love to. But right now we need to go home, we have better things to waste our time on..." Kurt said with a wink.

"Oh I'm sure there are!" Blaine said, taking Kurt's hand, and leading him away.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Oh Kurt, it's gorgeous! Thank you so much!" Blaine said, on the verge of squealing out of excitement.

"It's my pleasure babe."

"So have you told your Dad and Carole yet?" Blaine asked. "Although I somehow think you would have told me if you had..."

"Not yet. I wasn't going to do it last night, was I? I was having too much fun. And I was eager to get this today, so I haven't really had the chance yet... I was thinking I could either tell dad on the phone or wait a few day until we're in Lima and I can tell them face to face... Which do you think would be best?"

"Well, it's up to you. If you want to tell them in person then we can go sooner if you want...I don't think your dad is going to beat me up or anything, so there's no problems with my safety..."

"Hahaha I don't think he'll beat you up... Did you know he accepted you as family years ago?"

"He did?"

"Yes, or so he said. Something about after we had been dating for about 6 months and he could tell he'd be seeing a lot more of you in the future... I'm not going to complain!"

"Neither am I! Okay I'm just going to get this off my chest because it's been bugging me a lot."

"What Blaine?"

"I'm really worried that you haven't started planning the wedding yet... I was expecting you to get home and to have already booked a venue and already have my suit sorted... Oh and our wedding rings."

"Oh yeah I meant to tell you: I signed the papers already. I forged your signature and we're all set. Our honeymoon accommodation and flights are booked. We have to leave here in an hour." Kurt joked. "But seriously, I think we should wait a bit. Just enjoy being engaged, plan the wedding carefully, and make sure everything is exactly how we want. Maybe look into a new house first? I'd very much like to have somewhere we can go, start our married life and then family in. Somewhere other than a cramped little apartment up a million flights of stairs. A house. A proper house, with a garden and a picket fence. I want to have a house near a park and a school and be able to be a proper family in a proper family home, and I actually think that doing stuff like getting a house is more important for now, so when we get married we can go straight there. We should also start working so we can afford to have a wedding without being in debt! Seriously, I bet you're in debt from that dinner last night and this ring!" Kurt said laughing.

"I agree with you. I think we should start looking straight away. But we shouldn't let that make us postpone the wedding. I want to be your husband so much!"

"Me too Blaine!"

"So, back to the previous conversation, call your dad or..?"

"Wait. I'm going to wait. We're telling them together. Face to face. Sound good? It's only... 2 days anyway."

"Okay. You sure they won't be mad?"

"I'm very, very sure Blaine!"

"Good." replied Blaine. "I'm pleased. Very pleased."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Okay Kurt, are you ready? We have a long drive ahead of us! We need to get going if we're going to get to Lima at a decent hour." Blaine called out from the kitchen.

"Yes, Blaine. But you know how important my morning routine is! I'll be 5 minutes. I promise!"

"Okay. But 5 minutes only, please. I'll take the bags down to the car."

5 minutes later Blaine came back into the apartment to find Kurt ready and waiting.

"Come on! All sorted?"

"Yes, I am Blaine! Don't worry." Kurt grabbed his phone and followed Blaine out of the apartment, locking the door as he went. After a long drive they finally arrived in Lima. They hopped out of the car and were greeted at the door by a very excited Carole and an even more excited Burt.

"Boys!" Carole said, wrapping each of them in a hug.

"Hello Kurt, Hi Blaine. It's good to see you both!" Burt said. "It's actually not that long since we saw you last. How long...let me think. Oh yes. Four days! We just can't keep you away, obviously." He said, giving each of them a hug. "Good drive?"

"Yeah it was actually, Dad," Kurt said "Not too much traffic which was nice!"

"I'll make some tea!" Carole said. "Are you hungry boys?"

"Starving." Blaine said, hopefully.

"I'll make some sandwiches. That okay?"

"Sounds great, thanks Carole!" Kurt said sweetly.

"We'll get our bags and freshen up, then we'll be down real soon, okay?" Kurt and Blaine went up to Kurt's old room and changed. When they returned they were holding hands and they stood in to doorway waiting to get Burt and Carole's attention. Burt and Carole turned towards Kurt and Blaine, knowing something was up.

"Um, we have something we need to tell you guys."

"What is it Kurt?" Burt said.

"Um well...we're engaged!" Kurt said very happily.

"Oh my god that's great! Congratulations boys!" Carole said, bringing them into a hug.

"That is great!" Burt said, hugging Kurt. "Take care of him, Blaine." He said, before hugging Blaine.

"I like to think I already do... I promise." Blaine laughed.

"I can't say I'm surprised... We both knew it'd be soon enough!" Burt carried on.

"Do you have an idea when the wedding will be?" Carole asked

"Not yet. But we're not going to focus on that part just yet." Kurt replied.

"What do you mean?" Carole asked, confused.

"We're going to focus on getting a new place - a proper home that we can raise a family in, and saving up also. So we can actually afford a wedding..." Blaine explained.

"Sounds like a plan to me..." Burt said. "I don't mean to take anything away from all this but I'm really hungry. Can we eat?"

"Sure can!" Carole said, as they sat down around the table.

xxxxxxxxxxxx

After they had all eaten Blaine went upstairs to call Cooper to tell him about his engagement.

Meanwhile, Kurt wanted to talk to Burt. Kurt had got the impression that Burt was less than happy at the announcement. Not unhappy, he thought, maybe just...shocked.

"Dad?" Burt looked up from the desk he was sitting at. "Can I talk to you?"

"Of course you can Kurt."

"Okay. Dad you seemed a little...shocked at Blaine and me getting married. Like slightly unhappy or something, I don't know what exactly."

"Kurt. You have to understand, I am very happy for you. I love you and I love Blaine and you know very well that he has been a part of my family for years! But it's like you being engaged is a new level for me to get used to. You're my only son, Kurt. Well, obviously I have Finn, but you - you're the person linking me to your mother. Because of that, and the fact that I looked after you day and night for 18 years, I've always felt like I have to take extra special care of you, even when you're away in New York. You marrying Blaine is like me having to accept the fact that you are no longer my responsibility, you will always be my soon but now there is going to be someone who will have a lot more responsibility for you than I do. And I know you two have been living together for a long time but this really puts your relationship into cement. Every parent is happy when their kid gets engaged or married but it's also a very sad moment. Sad that your child has grown up and there is someone who will be there until they die but you won't be. It's just an emotional time for me, that's all. I'm going to be a wreck on the wedding day - be prepared." Kurt was quite surprised at this sudden speech - he knew that Burt had never been good with emotional stuff and so for him saying this was something that made Kurt very taken aback!

"Dad... okay well first off I need you to know that you have no reason to worry - Blaine will always be amazing at taking care of me, and second - you're still my father, and you're an amazing one! You're no less important to me. I love you Dad."

"I love you too son. And I am very happy for you two. I love Blaine and you are an amazing couple. a very strong one too, I might add. Much stronger that Finn and Rachel. Did you know that ever since they got back together at the beginning of the year they've broken up five times?"
"I thought it was only four..."

"No. They broke up for about three days last week!"

"Sounds like them!" Kurt laughed.

"It certainly does. At least with you and Blaine there's a little less drama!"

"Yeah there is! Anyway, I'd better get to bed. Night night."

"Goodnight Kurt."

Kurt walked upstairs to his room to find Blaine already tucked up in bed waiting for him.

"Hello babe. Sorry have you been waiting a long time?"

"Not that long. I only finished talking to Coop about five minutes ago."

"Good, good. Hey I'll just go and brush my teeth. I'll be back in a minute." Kurt left the room and came back soon after, and as he hopped into bed he carried on talking about Cooper.

"So how is he?" Kurt asked.

"He's good. He's pretty happy about being close to having a brother-in-law. He says hi to you, by the way."

"Oh cool. How are Jess and the boys?" Kurt asked, enquiring about Cooper's wife and twins.

"They're great! I talked to Sam actually. He and Jase play a lot of soccer at the moment, apparently. Cooper says they're pretty good, at least considering they're four! Coop got a good role in a movie which apparently is yet unnamed, and...let's see... Oh my god how could I forget? Jess is pregnant again!"

"Oh my god that's so exciting! How long?"

"Three months. They haven't told Mum and Dad yet so we can't tell anyone. Coop wants us to come and visit them in L.A sometime soon as well. I quote: "it's been too bloody long Blaine and I want to see Kurt!" He said nothing about wanting to see me! But anyway I guess we should be planning to see them soon so we don't put too much stress on Jess just before or after the baby's born."

"That'd be great! We can see Mercedes while we're there!"

"Great idea! Anyway I'm tired and I'm just about to fall asleep, so goodnight babe." he said, kissing Kurt softly.

"Nightnight. Love you." Kurt said as he reached over to switch off the light.

"I love you too Kurt."